City Review for Jets Proposals Flawed as Key Concerns are Left Unaddressed

posted by NationBuilder Support on September 12, 2013

NoJetsTO Details Criticism of Work by City and Consultants
September 12, 2013
TORONTO – Four months into the City-led review for Porter’s jet proposal for the waterfront, the process has skirted key health, safety and economic issues, leaving residents from across Toronto frustrated. Despite several public and private meetings with City staff, crucial concerns are still not reflected in the consultants’ work.
“Concerned citizens from across Toronto are loosing faith in the City’s review of the dangerous jet plans,” NoJetsTO chair Anshul Kapoor said. “Pushing out the town hall is not enough when the work plan for the consultants has gaping holes and the timeline is too short.”
After a packed public meeting in June, a face-to-face meeting with NoJetsTO representatives in July and two packed public consultations in September, City staff has failed to incorporate key concerns into their work plan. Issues like bird strikes, fuel spills or the impact of altered flight paths have not been researched or considered.
For details on the flawed City process, click here.
“City staff ignores what’s at stake: the revitalized waterfront with its $1.4 billion-price tag in taxpayer dollars,” Kapoor continued. “Instead of addressing concerns, the City is misleading the public through flawed surveys, booklets and presentations.”
City staff has admitted that there is not enough time to look into all issues that have been raised. Despite repeated questions from residents about health impacts, Public Health representatives were not invited to the public consultations and no substantial information about the City’s health study was provided.
“City staff’s objective is how to make the jet plans happen, not whether they are compatible with Toronto’s waterfront,” the NoJetsTO chair added. “Issues that will impact neighbourhoods from Etobicoke to Scarborough like flight paths have been neglected.”
“From cannibalizing Pearson’s business to the impact on property values, the City is not studying key issues,” Kapoor concluded. “NoJetsTO is meeting again with City staff but we are pessimistic that the study will be comprehensive and unbiased.”
NoJetsTO is a coalition of concerned citizens dedicated to preserving Toronto’s mixed-use waterfront and a boutique Island Airport. Representing residents across Toronto, the non-partisan organization NoJetsTO opposes the expansion of the Island Airport through jet aircraft and extended runways. NoJetsTO's goal is to preserve the status quo at the Island Airport by protecting the Tripartite Agreement that governs it.